Chapter 3 (Madge 13, Gale 14)

I forgot the disclaimer!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these people. Suzanne Collins does. Taylor Swift owns the song Safe and Sound. Not me.

Gale POV

"Strawberry wait up!" I yelled. Ever since Madge had taken a liking to strawberries, I haven't stopped calling her that.

"Gale, quit calling me that!" she screamed. She is mad at me, because I have to ditch her today on her birthday because I got detention. How is it my fault, the teacher got mad at me for telling her about her bald spot? There is a such thing as a hat!

"Madge, I told you, it's not my fault."

"You just HAD to point out her bald spot, didn't you? Now my best friend will be too busy cleaning some teacher's window and miss half of my birthday. You hang out with me every year on my Birthday. Who else am I supposed to share my cake with?" She said with tears in her eyes. Then she ran off.

I put my hands through my hair. Now I felt a little guilty. Maybe I can make it up to her.

After detention, around 6, I went to go shopping. Yup, you heard right, Gale Hawthorne is going shopping. I stopped by the bakery to get a small cake. Knowing Madge, she probably didn't even get a cake since she was so upset. I picked up some candles and cookie dough Ice-cream too. That's the only thing that ever cheers her up. Lastly I stopped by the jewelry shop.

My friend Thom works there so I went up to him.

"Hey Thom."

"Hey Gale, what are you doing here?"

"I have to get Madge something for her birthday. I got into detention and missed the plans we made so she is a bit mad."

"Well look around and tell me what you're getting then." He smiled and got back to work.

I saw one necklace with small jewels all over it. Madge won't like it. It's too flashy. She like simple, but meaningful. That girl is so complicated, but no one knows her better than me. I didn't know what to get her. Everything was too flashy. What are you supposed to get your best friend for her birthday?

Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small necklace. It had a simple silver chain and attached to it was a Pink heart that said Best Friends on it. The pink heart opened up and there was space to put a picture in it. It was perfect. I even had the perfect picture for it. I took out my wallet and looked at the picture of me and Madge in it. On one side was my family and the other was me and Madge two years ago.

I remember that day clearly. My mom insisted on having a family portrait since Posy was a year old. My dad of course couldn't say no to her. I had to wear my dad's old white shirt and black pants. It was itchy and I hated it. Madge laughed at me when she saw me. I wasn't even smiling in the picture. When the picture was over, Madge came over, undid my tie, messed up my hair, and hugged me. "That's better," she said, "Now you look normal." I had smiled at my now messy hair and we burst out laughing. At that moment the photographer took a picture without us noticing. When we were about to leave, he gave me the picture and told me to keep it for free. He said, he had never seen such close best friends. Ever since then, I kept it with me all the time along with a picture of my family.

I went to buy the necklace, but only the store owner was there. I gave him the necklace and he smiled.

"Let me guess, you did something wrong and are making it up to your best friend by giving her this necklace." He said. I smiled and scratched my head.

"Yeah, she was pretty mad." I smiled thinking of her pouting face.

"Then I will give it to you for half the price because friendship shouldn't cost THAT much." The store owner said. We both laughed. He asked me if I had a picture I wanted to put in it so he could put it in. I gave him the picture, and he smiled.

"Are you sure you should be getting the one that says Best Friend on it?" he asked. I blushed.

"Um, yes. We are just best friends." I replied.

He smirked and put the picture in the necklace. I said thanks and left.

I checked the time. It was already 8:00 P.M. She is going to be so mad. I went home quickly and told my parents, I was going to go see Madge. Wanting to give her a surprise, I climbed up to her balcony. Her window was open as usual in case of a thunder storm. I jumped in through her window and Madge jumped up from her bed. Her eyes were puffy and rimmed with red. I'm an ass.

"Happy Birthday Madge!" I said. She didn't look so happy. I brought out the cake and put it in front of her. I lit the candles and the room got lighter. I sighed. "I'm really sorry Madge. I didn't mean to make you upset. I promise I will never insult Mrs. Trinket's bald spot ever again." She smiled a little.

"Pinky Promise?" she croaked out, "I pinky promise." I smiled and twisted my pinky with hers.

"Now eat this cake up and then we can eat the cookie dough ice-cream too!"

She completely lit up. "Really, you brought Ice-cream?"

"Of course I did. Now come on, eat up so I can give you your present." After that we ate and saved some food for the next few days. Being from the seam made us learn not to take the food for granted. We have extra money right now because of our dads going hunting. Finally we finished eating and Madge looked up at me.

"Okay, where is my present?" She smirked. I'm growing on her. Strawberry never smirks.

"First you have to close your eyes and turn around." She smiled and did what I told her too. Her perfect blonde locks of hair were getting in my way so I moved them over her shoulder. I took the box with the necklace out and placed it around her neck. I brought her in front of the mirror. I hope she likes it. "You can open your eyes now Madge. She opened them and saw the necklace. Her smile widened. "Gale, it's beautiful! I love it." I chuckled. Of course she did." You can open it up too. I opened the locket up and showed her the picture. She smiled and hugged me with watery eyes. I felt tears on my shoulder.

"Madge why are you crying?" I frowned. I thought she liked it. She looked up.

"They're happy tears Gale. You're the best friend ever. I love it!" I smiled and hugged her again.

"Good, because I spend a lot of time finding it." She giggled. Then she frowned a little.

"Gale, this must have cost so much. You didn't have—""It's OK Madge. I was saving up to buy you a present anyways." I interrupted her. She smiled and dragged me to her piano. She started playing a new song. She had never played this before. It was beautiful. "Madge, what is this song. It's nice. I never heard you play it before."

"That's because I just finished composing it. It's called 'Safe and Sound'. It has lyrics too. Should I sing it?"

"Yes!" She started singing.

I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Don't you dare look out your window darling
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound

By the time the song ended, I was in a daze. Her voice was soft and smooth. I could tell how hard she worked on this song. It was beautiful. From that moment, I knew that I was falling for my best friend.

Madge Undersee

Ok Last one for a while. I mean it this time though. Review please!